Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, PDA, and more. Please share
with other progressives!
State Senate candidate Roger Manno will speak at our meeting. We'll also
discuss positive ideas and programs for an economy and society that
more fully embodies our highest values with a representative from Tikkun
magazine, including their upcoming conference in D.C.
When: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 7:30 PM
Where: Saigonese Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave
Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902
Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)
Google Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902
The year is more than 1/3 over. Many people have already contributed to
help keep this group going. If you haven't already, please contribute
$15 (or more!) online: http://www.meetup.com/progressive-victory/dues/
or bring a donation to a meeting or event.
Please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance Google Group:
http://groups.google.com/group/mcprogressivealliance
If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts
Four Meetup groups--Progressive Victory in 2010, Democratic Party /
MCPA, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance and Democratic Party / DFA
/ DFMC--get together with like-minded activists working for progress. We
support and help plan the actions of these other organizations:
1. MCPA: The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is a result-oriented
coalition working on local, state, national and international issues.
MCPA includes more than 1,000 local activists, mainly in and around
Montgomery County Maryland. The organization began in 2003 when
Democracy for America Meetup members reached out to other Meetup groups
and other groups. In 2004, 100s of Montgomery County for Kerry members
and local Progressive Democrats of America members joined the MCPA. MCPA
adopted a mission statement, organized special events, and has held
meetings nearly each month since 2003.
2. DFA/DFMC: Democracy for America emerged from Gov. Howard Dean's
presidential campaign in 2004, and has organized grass-roots activists
to support socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates. DFMC
is Democracy for Montgomery County, a local DFA-inspired organization
which is not directly or legally affiliated with DFA. DFMC has organized
events and meetings; and endorsed and organized volunteers for several
candidates. DFMC is currently seeking additional steering committee
members. Contact me, mikehersh@mikehersh.com for more information. You
can sign up for DFA here: http://democracyforamerica.com/session/new
3. PDA: Progressive Democrats of America began just after the 2004
Democratic National Convention in Boston. Bringing together people from
the 2004 Kucinich and Dean Campaigns with other progressives, PDA
adopted an "inside/outside strategy" uniting activists working inside
the Democratic Party with those working in peace and justice movements.
PDA's core issues include clean, accurate and transparent elections;
environmental protection; single-payer healthcare; economic and social
justice; and peace. Contact me for more information. See:
http://www.PDAmerica.org You can sign up for PDA here:
https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/personal2.asp?formid=joinusshort&c=5052037
4. PWG: The Progressive Working Group is a coalition promoting progress
and reform, economic fairness and equality, protecting the environment,
and more. PWG is not part of the MCPA, but the MCPA is part of the PWG
which currently includes: Audubon Naturalist Society, CASA of Maryland,
Democracy for Montgomery County, Equality Maryland, Health Care Now,
Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Montgomery Health Care Action,
PeaceAction Montgomery, Peace and Justice of Prince George's County,
Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of America (Maryland),
Progressive Neighbors, Save Our Votes, and Upcounty Action. PWG will
focus on 2 or 3 issues during the 2010 session. Progressive
organizations are welcome to join PWG. This past year, several
organizations in Howard County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City
launched a sister chapter of the PWG. See:
http://progressiveworkinggroup.blogspot.com/ Contact Wally Malakoff
malakoff@starpower.net
We cooperate with and support other organizations working in our area
including (but not limited to):
Common Cause Maryland is the state's leading good government and
democracy reform group aiming to: Strengthen public participation and
public faith in our institutions of government; Ensure that government
and the political process serve the public interest, rather than special
interests; Curb the excessive influence of money on government decisions
and elections; Promote fair and honest elections and high ethical
standards for elected officials; and Protect the civil rights and civil
liberties of all Marylanders.
See:http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4847585
The Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club sponsors important
discussions, forums and other events including the spectacular annual
Summer cookout. Contact Mark Woodard: markdwoodard@comcast.net
HealthCareMaryland.org is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization
engaged in research, public education, and advocacy to guarantee
universal high-quality health care for all Maryland residents. See:
http://www.healthcaremaryland.org/
MoveOn is a national political action organization and has a local
council in Silver Spring and elsewhere around Maryland. Local MoveOn
members have cooperated with MCPA on town halls, vigils, phone banking,
and other actions. See http://www.moveon.org to join your local council.
NOW: The National Organization for Women has been advancing womens'
issues including general progressive causes for decades. See:
http://www.now.org/ for more information. Contact Montgomery County NOW
membership chairperson Jeannette Feldner lj.feldner@verizon.net to join.
Men as well as women are welcome to join NOW.
OfA: Organizing for America emerged from President Obama's campaign in
2008, and is organizing grass-roots activists to support the Democratic
National Committee/Obama agenda. OfA is sponsoring local efforts in each
congressional district which are not directly or legally affiliated with
the DNC. OfA is currently sponsoring phone banks, organizing meetings,
and building a "rapid response" media effort. Please contact Jon Randall
jrandall39@comcast.net for more information. See
http://www.barackobama.com/learn/about_ofa.php
PeaceAction Montgomery are highly motivated individuals, affiliated with
the national organization, Peace Action. Anyone can join Peace Action
Montgomery. Currently, there are over 2,600 dues-paying members in
Montgomery County. Activities depend on the dedication and hard work of
the membership. For more information see: http://www.peaceactionmc.org/
Progressive Cheverly is based in Cheverly, Maryland. Their mission is to
promote economic fairness, social justice, basic human rights, a
sustainable environment, a tolerant society and world peace through a
more informed political dialogue and active participation in civil
society and the democratic political process. For more information see:
http://progchev.edterry.com/
Progressive Maryland is a grassroots, nonprofit organization of more
than 15,000 members and supporters as well as 40 affiliated religious,
community, and labor organizations. Through research, public education,
and direct political action we strive to improve the lives of working
families in our state. See: http://www.progressivemaryland.org/
Progressive Neighbors is working for: Schools that give all students an
opportunity to reach their full potential, Universal health care,
affordable housing, and an adequate living wage, Public transportation
systems that combine convenience and environmental protections, Land use
policies that are sustainable, serve residents, and don't overburden our
infrastructure, Effective protection against crime stressing prevention,
community involvement and fairness, Measures that assure a greater voice
for all, such as campaign finance and voting reforms, Fairness and
equality for all regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion,
income, or sexual orientation. More information:
http://www.progressiveneighborsmd.org/
SAVEourVotes is a statewide nonpartisan grassroots nonprofit
organization working for Secure, Accessible, Verifiable Elections in
Maryland. More information: http://saveourvotes.org/
Transparency and Equal Access in Government is working to open
operations of state government, and to guarantee members of the public
have the same access as lobbyists and other insiders. Contact Luis
Zapata for more information: 4zapata@gmail.com
Upcounty Action engages in advocacy for people, places, programs and
preservation in upper Montgomery County areas. For more information see:
http://www.upcountyaction.org/
WPFW-FM Pacifica provides outlets for the creative skills and energies
of the community, to contribute to a lasting understanding between
individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors, and to promote the
full distribution of public information. Programming on WPFW will
principally be a mix of jazz, Third World music, news and public
affairs. The airwaves at 89.3 will be an accessible media outlet for
Blacks, Hispanics, cultural groups, women, seniors, youth and other
ethnic and non-traditional groups. See: http://www.wpfw.org/
To have your organization or events listed here, please contact me.
Thanks for reading down this far, and hope to see you at the meeting and
future events.
One last reminder to help keep our organization going and growing:
Please contribute $15 (or more!) online:
http://www.meetup.com/progressive-victory/dues/ or bring a donation to a
meeting or event.
Thanks again,
Mike Hersh,
Meetup Organizer
Chairperson, MCPA and DFMC
Maryland State Coordinator, PDA
Steering Committee, PWG
